Doctor shows up for surgery, allegedly drunk, ends up in handcuffs

Dr. Theodore Gerstle, a plastic surgeon practicing in Lexington, Ky., was arrested Jan. 17 after allegedly showing up intoxicated to perform a surgery.

The incident occurred at Baptist Health Lexington. Medical staff alerted the chief medical officer, who spoke toto Dr. Gerstle. Gerstle then left the hospital on foot and police were called. He was found not far from the hospital and arrested on charges of public intoxication.

The hospital has suspended him in the wake of the incident and says it happened before he was scheduled to perform surgery. “Patient safety is always our No. 1 concern,” a hospital spokeswoman, Ruth Ann Childers, told CBS News.

An investigation by the hospital is now underway.

According to HealthGrades.com, Dr. Gerstle is a graduate of the University of Louisville, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and a plastic surgery program at Harvard University. According to the bio on his personal website, he’s also an Eagle Scout.

Dr. Gerstle has not issued any statements about the allegations, either on his personal website or on social media accounts. His status at the practice where he works, Lexington Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, is unknown.

A case of substance abuse among medical professionals is not unheard of. In September last year, Dr. Steven Morris had his medical license suspended by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.